Northampton Saints began their Gallagher PREM title defense in dominant fashion on Friday, crushing the Newcastle Red Bulls 59-26 at DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. James Pater and Tommy Freeman each ran in hat-tricks, while fly-half Fin Smith brilliantly conducted a nine-try rout for the reigning champions.
The champions entered the new season following last year’s final victory over Exeter Chiefs, which secured their second title in three years, according to Yahoo Sports.
Nine-Try Rout Highlights Opening Night at Franklin’s Gardens
Northampton wasted little time establishing control in front of home supporters. Nineteen-year-old James Pater and Tommy Freeman led the charge with three tries apiece, while George Hendy, Alex Coles, and Ollie Sleightholme also crossed the try line to deliver an emphatic 59-26 scoreline. Fly-half Fin Smith orchestrated the attack masterfully, kicking five conversions alongside two additional conversions from Anthony Belleau.
Despite the lopsided score, the visitors found some attacking rhythm under new personnel. Newcastle managed four tries through a brace from Adam Wade, plus individual scores from Louis Jordan and Werner Kok. Brett Connon and Zack Henry added conversions to secure a losing bonus point for the Red Bulls.
New Faces and Milestone Appearances Shape Round 1 Lineups
The fixture featured significant roster changes for both clubs. Newcastle’s matchday squad included former Saints players Sam Graham and Elliot Millar Mills, while Chris Harris and Werner Kok made their PREM debuts for the visitors, according to Yahoo Sports reporting. For Northampton, Henry Pollock reached a personal milestone by making his 50th Saints appearance.
Discipline played a factor as both sides tested the referee’s whistle. Newcastle’s Tobias Obatoyinbo received a yellow card in the 14th minute, and teammate Adam Rakete-Stones followed with another in the 43rd minute under referee Anthony Woodthorpe.
Broadcast Details and the Road Ahead for the Gallagher PREM
Fans following the action from the United States can watch live coverage and match replays through FloRugby and the FloSports app, which streams major domestic leagues, European club competitions, and international matches. Round 1 action continues through the weekend, featuring Harlequins hosting Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs facing Gloucester Rugby.
Looking further into the calendar, the 2027 Gallagher PREM Playoffs are scheduled to begin on June 12, 2027, with two semifinal matches leading up to the league championship match on June 19, 2027, at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.